na

I could hear the low hum of the central air compressor kick

taring blankly at the ceiling. My fully packed c

nst the mahogany nightstand, the friction creating a hars

ning as I saw Gia's encrypted num

her voice exploded th

Gia was a woman who tolerated zero disrespect

?" Gia demanded, her

asked, my voice

ook at it right f

, I tapped the speaker button and

t sat at the ver

in the plush leather backseat

e, the cascade of diamonds catching the blu

y breath catch: the exact red velvet gift bag

ge, a slow, hollowing sens

into place with a

e had only returned to fetch his ex

rs, I scrolled down

. So lucky to have you, Dan

rough me, not a sudden slam

t just Mia'

of my grand, highly publicized

ed and buried by him over the years that e

" Gia practically screamed through the speaker. "It's a blatant disrespec

p sigh, my eyes drifting b

need to divo

u talking about? You

shut, fighting th

ever took the

lling dead silent for s

to a disbelieving whisper, "that after three years of being promise

d, forcing out

nte has found an excuse to cancel our trip to

other end of the

shred of denial I had been c